I’m a reader and a list maker. It’s just who I am. So I thought, “why not write a post combining books AND a list?” Perfect. So without further adieu, I present a few books I’ve finished reading:

“Every Bitter Thing is Sweet”-Sara Hagerty

Do me a favor-even if you don’t look at another title on this list, please look this one up. I will probably do an entire post on this one; but just trust me. You will want to read this.

“Counterfeit Gods”-Timothy Keller

This one was a challenging, convicting read. However, it was a good read in that it firmly points your eyes back to Christ and Him as our only source of hope.

“Befriend”-Scott Sauls

I was a huge fan of Scott’s first book, “Jesus Outside the Lines” and this one is just as great. Challenging, thought-provoking, and encouraging. Great read!

“At Home in Mitford”-Jan Karon

This was a re-read for me. I love Karon’s writing style-warm, friendly, and inviting with great characters. It was good to be back with Father Tim and the Mitford gang. If you’re looking for a fun, heart warming read, this is it!

I’d love to hear what you’re reading right now. Or if you have any suggestions, let me know in the comments!

“What makes you feel most alive?” I was sitting in a group of people as we were playing the game of “Questions”, where a random question is asked of you and you must answer to the best of your ability.

This was the current question being posed to the group and many had great answers. Me? I had nothing. Nothing. “Come on, Molly. Play the game. Just tell them what makes you feel most alive.” But the truth of the matter was I had nothing. Mainly because most of my days consisted of getting up, going to work, coming home, watching TV, going to bed, and doing the whole thing over again. And “watching TV” didn’t seem like an adequate answer.

It was in that moment that I began to realize that I honestly didn’t have anything that felt life-giving to me. At least that I recognized. Life had become one long to do list where I was frantically running but never gaining any ground.Sure, I was busy, constantly doing things, but always had a sense of frustration that followed me.

To most looking on the outside, everything seemed normal and fine. But inwardly there wasn’t anyone there-at least that I could sense. It was as if I had become a human “machine”… I showed up, did the work, punched the clock, all while existing and not living.

I knew something had to change, but I didn’t know where to begin. Maybe if I add another commitment of service? Maybe I should read my Bible more? Pray more? And yet, more frustration. “I’m doing all of these things for you, God! These are the things I’m supposed to be doing! Why do you feel distant, and I feel overwhelmed and burned out?” These were my constant questions of the Lord. I knew something had to change, but didn’t know where to start.

It was a coming to an end of myself and my striving to earn what had already been given to me in Jesus. God was about to take me on a journey of re-learning about Him, His Word, His character, the Gospel, and how He, the Creator of the universe saw me.

*This is part one of a three-part series where I try to encapsulate what the Lord has done in my life the past three years. I’ve debated whether I should share all of this, but I do believe in the power of giving testimony to what God has accomplished to 1) give Him praise and 2) in the hopes that it might help another individual in a similar situation. This is simply my story.

We had a winter storm over the weekend. It wasn’t a major event (about five inches total where I live) but it was enough for me to declare it a ‘Snow Weekend’. Being an introvert (INFJ to be exact), it didn’t bother me to spend a couple of days alone. I am, however, quite ready to enter society again. Here’s a glimpse into my snow weekend:

It’s been, what? Three years now? Three years since I last put fingers to the keyboard attempting to type out something of great importance or humor and hit publish. Three years since I stopped writing. Three years since God took my thoughts of Him and how I thought life was supposed to work, and turned me and my thoughts upside down. Three years since God began to shift and change how I saw the world and the people made in His image. And how He saw me. And now, three years later, how He is continuing to shape, shift, and challenge me in the most caring ways.

I took a stroll (or scroll if you prefer) through my previous blog posts, and oh was I highly amused at myself. I was 21. Twenty. One. and thought that I had life figured out. I was, um, generous (and that’s putting it nicely) with my opinions and attitude. Waxing poetically about the course of life I had chosen for myself (“and while you’re at it, maybe you should choose the same course of life because I clearly understand how to live life…I’ve been enlightened, and you could learn a thing or two from me.”) I may have cringed more than once while reading.

So. Why write about it? Why after three years would I want to dust off the keyboard and start publishing my thoughts for all to see (which can be a terrifying prospect at times)? It’s a simple answer really: I’ve missed writing. I’ve always been one who does better at processing their thoughts through writing than verbalizing and I’ve missed taking a thought and processing it by writing. And maybe, just maybe there’s someone who needs to hear? Who needs to know that life is more than to do lists, regimented routines, critical judgement of others and yourself, and a shallow view of the God that loves you and has given you everything you need. In Him, it is finished. He is all you need. This blog is simply a place for us to share in the knowledge of this truth:

“We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe. Yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” -Timothy Keller